PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report on splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs) treated by transcatheter embolization in our single-center institution and to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with SAA by aneurysm location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The original medical records and imaging results of 52 patients with SAA treated in our center between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2013 were reviewed. Of these cases, 7 patients (13.5%) underwent surgery, 4 patients (7.5%) underwent serial observation, and 1 patient had stent insertion only, leaving 40 patients (78.9%) who underwent endovascular treatment using a coil, with or without N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. RESULTS: Aneurysms were located in the distal third of the splenic artery in 27 patients (67.5%), in the middle third in 9 cases (22.5%), and in the proximal third in 4 cases (10%). Of the 40 included patients, 25 were female (62.5%). Twenty-eight patients (70%) were asymptomatic. The mean aneurysm diameter was 2.48 cm (range, 0.8-6.0 cm). Complications involved pancreatitis (n=1) and early spleen infarction (n=29: <1/3 in 14, 1/3-2/3 in 10, and >2/3 in 5). Postembolization syndrome was noted in 26 patients (65%). There were no significant differences by aneurysm location in the postoperative increase in the values of white blood cells, amylase, lipase, and C-reactive protein (P=0.067, P=0.881, P=0.891, and P=0.188, respectively). CONCLUSION: At our institution, endovascular management is safe, has high technical success, and represents the first-line treatment for SAA, regardless of aneurysm location.
Amylases ; Aneurysm* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Enbucrilate ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction ; Leukocytes ; Lipase ; Medical Records ; Pancreatitis ; Spleen ; Splenic Artery* ; Stents

Major peripheral arterial graft infection is a potentially devastating complication of vascular surgery, associated with significant mortality and high amputation rates. Autologous saphenous veins are considered optimal arterial conduits for lower extremity revascularization in infected fields, but they are often unavailable or unsuitable in these patients. This study describes two patients with major peripheral graft infection, but without available autologous veins, who underwent graft excision and cryopreserved cadaveric arterial allograft reconstruction. Although long-term graft durability is unclear because of gradual deterioration and degeneration, these findings suggest that cadaveric allografts may be good options for patients with major peripheral graft infection.
Allografts* ; Amputation ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Cadaver* ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Mortality ; Saphenous Vein ; Tissue Preservation ; Transplants* ; Veins

No abstract available.
Azacitidine* ; Bandages* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes*

PURPOSE: This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the clinical outcomes of staged bilateral carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis performed with a short interval between the primary and secondary CEA procedures. METHODS: In our institution, 574 consecutive patients underwent CEA between September 2007 and August 2014. Bilateral significant ICA stenosis was identified in 43 patients (7.5%) who underwent staged bilateral CEA within 30 days or less. Patients with unilateral CEA and staged bilateral CEA were compared in terms of CEA outcomes. The primary endpoint was the composite of any stroke, myocardial infarction, or death during the periprocedural period or ipsilateral stroke within 3 years after the CEA. RESULTS: Staged bilateral CEA was not associated with ipsilateral stroke (P = 0.178) during postoperative follow-up. The two groups did not differ in terms of estimated 3-year primary endpoint rates (2.8% vs. 4.7%, P = 0.456) or ipsilateral stroke-free (P = 0.225), any stroke-free (P = 0.326), or overall (P = 0.739) survival rates. CONCLUSION: Patients with bilateral significant ICA stenosis can undergo staged bilateral CEA within 30 days or less with outcomes that compare favorably with those of patients undergoing unilateral CEA.
Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Carotid Stenosis* ; Cohort Studies ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endarterectomy, Carotid* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and the role of graft material in the development of an acute phase systemic inflammatory response, and the clinical outcome in patients who undergo endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open surgical repair (OSR) of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the risk factors and the role of graft material in an increased risk of developing systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and the clinical outcome in patients who underwent EVAR or OSR of an AAA. RESULTS: A total of 308 consecutive patients who underwent AAA repair were included; 178 received EVAR and 130 received OSR. There was no significant difference in the incidence of SIRS between EVAR patients and OSR patients. Regardless of treatment modality, SIRS was observed more frequently in patients treated with woven polyester grafts. Postoperative hospitalization was significantly prolonged in patients that experienced SIRS. In multivariate analyses, the initial white blood cell count (P = 0.001) and the use of woven polyester grafts (P = 0.005) were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing SIRS in patients who underwent EVAR. By contrast, the use of woven polyester grafts was the only factor associated with an increased risk of developing SIRS in patients who underwent OSR, although this was not statistically significant (P = 0.052). CONCLUSION: The current study shows that the graft composition plays a primordial role in the development of SIRS, and it leads to prolonged hospitalization in both EVAR and OSR patients.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocyte Count ; Multivariate Analysis ; Polyesters ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; Transplants*

Although the standard treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm has shifted from open surgery to endovascular repair, open surgery has remained the standard of care for complex aneurysms involving the visceral arteries and in patients unsuitable for endovascular aneurysm repair. Postoperative renal insufficiency may occur after open surgical repair of suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods of minimizing renal ischemic injury include aortic cross-clamping and renal reconstruction techniques. This report describes the use of renal autotransplantation for renal reconstruction during open surgical repair of a suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. This technique was successful, suggesting its feasibility for open suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, minimizing renal ischemic injury and optimizing postoperative renal function.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Arteries ; Autografts* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Renal Insufficiency ; Standard of Care ; Transplantation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the possible predictors of primary arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure and examine the impact of a preoperative evaluation on AVF outcomes. METHODS: A total of 539 patients who underwent assessment for a suitable site for AVF creation by physical examination alone or additional duplex ultrasound were included in this study. Demographics, patient characteristics, and AVF outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: AVF creation was proposed in 469 patients (87.0%) according to physical examination alone (351 patients) or additional duplex ultrasound (118 patients); a prosthetic arteriovenous graft was initially placed in the remaining 70 patients (13.0%). Although the primary failure rate was significantly higher in patients assessed by duplex ultrasound (P = 0.001), ultrasound information changed the clinical plan, increasing AVF use for dialysis, in 92 of the 188 patients (48.9%) with an insufficient physical examination. Female sex and diabetes mellitus were risk factors significantly associated with primary AVF failure. Because of different inclusion criteria and a lack of adjustment for baseline differences, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed better AVF outcomes in patients assessed by physical examination alone; an insufficient physical examination was the only risk factor significantly associated with AVF outcomes. CONCLUSION: Routine use of duplex ultrasound is not necessary in chronic kidney disease patients with a satisfactory physical examination. Given that female gender and diabetes mellitus are significantly associated with primary AVF failure, duplex ultrasound could be of particular benefit in these subtypes of patients without a sufficient physical examination.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Demography ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dialysis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Physical Examination ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transplants ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography

This single center cohort study aimed to test the hypothesis that use of a cryopreserved arterial allograft could avoid the maturation or healing process of a new vascular access and to evaluate the patency of this technique compared with that of vascular access using a prosthetic graft. Between April 2012 and March 2013, 20 patients underwent an upper arm vascular access using a cryopreserved arterial allograft for failed or failing vascular accesses and 53 using a prosthetic graft were included in this study. The mean duration of catheter dependence, calculated as the time interval from upper arm access placement to removal of the tunneled central catheter after successful cannulation of the access, was significantly longer for accesses using a prosthetic graft than a cryopreserved arterial allograft (34.4 ± 11.39 days vs. 4.9 ± 8.5 days, P < 0.001). In the allograft group, use of vascular access started within 7 days in 16 patients (80%), as soon as from the day of surgery in 10 patients. Primary (unassisted; P = 0.314) and cumulative (assisted; P = 0.673) access survivals were similar in the two groups. There were no postoperative complications related to the use of a cryopreserved iliac arterial allograft except for one patient who experienced wound hematoma. In conclusion, upper arm vascular access using a cryopreserved arterial allograft may permit immediate hemodialysis without the maturation or healing process, resulting in access survival comparable to that of an access using a prosthetic graft.
Adult ; Arteries/*transplantation ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Cohort Studies ; *Cryopreservation ; Female ; Hematoma/diagnosis ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Vascular Access Devices ; Veins/pathology

This single center cohort study aimed to test the hypothesis that use of a cryopreserved arterial allograft could avoid the maturation or healing process of a new vascular access and to evaluate the patency of this technique compared with that of vascular access using a prosthetic graft. Between April 2012 and March 2013, 20 patients underwent an upper arm vascular access using a cryopreserved arterial allograft for failed or failing vascular accesses and 53 using a prosthetic graft were included in this study. The mean duration of catheter dependence, calculated as the time interval from upper arm access placement to removal of the tunneled central catheter after successful cannulation of the access, was significantly longer for accesses using a prosthetic graft than a cryopreserved arterial allograft (34.4 ± 11.39 days vs. 4.9 ± 8.5 days, P < 0.001). In the allograft group, use of vascular access started within 7 days in 16 patients (80%), as soon as from the day of surgery in 10 patients. Primary (unassisted; P = 0.314) and cumulative (assisted; P = 0.673) access survivals were similar in the two groups. There were no postoperative complications related to the use of a cryopreserved iliac arterial allograft except for one patient who experienced wound hematoma. In conclusion, upper arm vascular access using a cryopreserved arterial allograft may permit immediate hemodialysis without the maturation or healing process, resulting in access survival comparable to that of an access using a prosthetic graft.
Adult ; Arteries/*transplantation ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Cohort Studies ; *Cryopreservation ; Female ; Hematoma/diagnosis ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Vascular Access Devices ; Veins/pathology

Aortic complications of giant cell arteritis are a rare cause of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Here, we describe a case of a ruptured aortic aneurysm in a patient with giant call arteritis (GCA) who was preoperatively suspected of having an infectious aortic aneurysm. Intraoperative inspection revealed infectious granulation tissue on the anterior wall of the abdominal aorta. GCA was finally confirmed by pathological diagnosis. Our findings suggest that the surgical and postoperative treatment of nonatheromatous aortic aneurysm should be based on accurate diagnosis.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Aortic Rupture ; Aortitis ; Arteritis ; Diagnosis ; Giant Cell Arteritis* ; Giant Cells* ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans